Driver suffers critical injuries in H-1 crash
A car flipped on the H-1 freeway Saturday afternoon, leaving the driver in extremely critical condition.
Police said the vehicle overturned about a mile before the Kunia offramp in the town-bound direction at 2:10 p.m. Paramedics took the man to the Queen’s Medical Center, an Emergency Medical Services supervisor said. The investigation temporarily closed the far right lane of the freeway.
Motorcycle crash victim was from Aiea
A man killed when his motorcycle crashed in Salt Lake Wednesday has been identified as George Simao Jr., 47, of Aiea.
Police said Simao was driving a 2005 Kawasaki northbound on Bougainville Drive when he lost control and veered into oncoming traffic at about 5:14 p.m. Wednesday. He fell off the motorcycle and hit the front bumper and grill of a Ford Explorer SUV, police said.
The SUV driver, a 45-year-old Honolulu woman, and her passengers were not hurt.
Speed might have been a factor, police said. Simao was wearing a helmet but sustained massive head and internal injuries, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was the fifth person to die on Oahu roads this year. There were eight traffic fatalities by this point in 2011.
Tourist dies from parasailing injuries
A 68-year-old tourist died Friday from injuries suffered in a parasailing accident on Jan. 29.
The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Jack Banaszynski of Palm Springs, Calif.
According to the fire department, Banaszynski and another man were on a tandem parasailing ride off Kewalo Basin when they were dragged about 1,000 feet in the water. Crew members from the X-Treme Parasail vessel were able to pull the men back into the boat and begin CPR. Both men were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Police said Banaszynski was unresponsive when he was taken to the hospital and never recovered. He died Friday at 5:53 p.m. An autopsy will be performed this week.
No update was available on the condition of the other victim, who is also from Palm Springs.
The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Two suspects still at large after assault
Hawaii island police are searching for two men in connection with a Wednesday night assault on a 20-year-old man identified as a witness in a manslaughter case against one of the suspects.
Police identified the two wanted men as 21-year-old Waylen Keoni Carenio, who last known address was in Waimea, and 24-year-old Turner Kaimana Au of Hilo.
According to police, the victim was approached by one of the suspects outside Coqui’s Hideaway restaurant and brought to a vehicle where the other suspect was waiting. Once inside the car, the victim was restrained and assaulted. He eventually broke free and escaped.
Police confirmed that the victim, who sustained minor injuries in the assault, is a witness in a manslaughter case against Carenio.
Carenio was indicted last week for allegedly recklessly causing the death of 44-year-old Roy Williams Jr. during a fight outside a bar on Dec. 4.
A bench warrant was issued following the indictment.
Home sustains some damage in night blaze
Hawaii County firefighters extinguished a fire at a Waimea home Friday night, saving about 75 percent of the house from damage.
The fire started on a back lanai and burned a shed and the rear corner of the home on Kipahele Street. A bathroom, a bedroom and attic space were damaged.
No one was home at the time of the 8:26 p.m. fire. Damage is estimated at $140,000. The value of the home and property saved is estimated at $330,000.
The cause is under investigation.
